Abstract

Corn rootworms of the genus Diabrotica (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae) are the most serious pest of corn in midwestern United States. Despite their economic importance, phylogenetic relationships within the genus remain unclear. Phylogenetic analysis of five Diabrotica species and subspecies was undertaken using DNA sequences of the nuclear rDNA first internal transcribed spacer region (ITS1) and a portion of the mtDNA cytochrome oxidase I and II genes (COI/COII). Parsimony and maximum likelihood analysis indicated that southern corn rootworm is sister to banded cucumber beetle, whereas, northern corn rootworm forms a distinct clade with western and Mexican corn rootworm. ITS1 and COI/COII were found to be useful markers for determining phylogenetic relationships among diabroticites.

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